Flame Demon Tribe!
Lanling stood on the tall city wall. Below, densely packed, stood over forty thousand people, all subjects of the Flame Demon Tribe.
Naishu’s declaration of war, everyone had heard.
Within one month, deliver Lanling’s head, otherwise the entire Flame Demon Tribe will be slaughtered until not even chickens or dogs remain.
From that point on, the over forty thousand people of the Flame Demon Tribe were all in a state of panic.
Lanling’s mentality was very dark. He of course knew that delivering Lanling’s head within one month was merely a provocation.
Even if the Flame Demon Tribe delivered Lanling’s head, he would still destroy the Flame Demon Tribe and kill every person. A dozen or so tribes gathering over a hundred thousand troops naturally required one month’s time.
He instinctively felt that within the tribe, some people would be restless and deliver Lanling’s head to exchange for their lives.
But he was overthinking.
At least for now, no such voices existed.
Because the people of the Flame Demon Tribe had all suffered greatly. Whether in behaviour or mentality, they were all very mature, and would not simply be fooled.
However, having finally found a place to shelter, now facing imminent catastrophe, they would certainly be frightened, certainly panic, and even lose heart for construction.
The eyes of over forty thousand people stared tightly at Lanling.
They hoped to hear a sentence from Lanling’s mouth, something like a hundred thousand troops, something like Naishu, merely chickens and dogs, this battle will certainly be won.
Their chief Lanling had created many miracles, so they hoped the chief could once again create a miracle.
Looking at the gazes of countless people, Lanling gradually calmed down.
He felt responsibility and heavy burden.
These people were his seeds, his subjects, his power to charge into the human kingdom in the future, his power to avenge his grievances, his power to liberate the entire world.
At this time, the leader’s role was unparalleled, able to unite people’s hearts, able to boost morale.
At this moment, Lanling was the backbone and anchor for the over forty thousand people of the Flame Demon Tribe.
Taking a deep breath, Lanling said, “A few months ago, when Constantine’s thirty thousand allied troops surrounded the Flame Demon Tribe, we only had a mere thousand people. Everyone thought death was certain, defeat was certain. And I told him, I completely did not place this battle in my eyes. What I cared about was the second battle. Now the second battle has come. A little later than I expected.”
This sentence was not funny at all, but the subjects of the Flame Demon Tribe below still laughed out loud.
Lanling knew the entire tribe’s atmosphere was filled with suppression and unease. Everyone sought every method to find confidence, to seek relief.
Lanling said, “The second battle is completely within my plan. One month later, a hundred and ten thousand strong army will attack my Flame Demon Tribe. And during this time, the Near-Human brothers coming to join us will become fewer and fewer, because our Flame Demon Tribe has already become dangerous ground.”
As soon as these words came out, someone below immediately said, “Then after we win, we will no longer accept them.”
This was said in anger.
Lanling said, “I very much want to tell you, this battle will certainly be won, these hundred and ten thousand troops are merely chickens and dogs. But… I cannot say this.”
“Because, we no longer have the Mirror Demon King’s trap. We must completely rely on ourselves,” Lanling said. “So, whether we can win or not, to a large extent, does not depend on me, but depends on you.”
“You want to hear me say this battle will certainly be won. Sorry, I cannot give this kind of guarantee,” Lanling said quietly.
As soon as these words came out, the entire atmosphere tensed up.
All the brothers of the Flame Demon Tribe became dejected. Perhaps in their hearts, Lanling was truly almost deified, the embodiment of miracles.
“I cannot give you the confidence of certain victory, but…” Lanling said, “I can guarantee, if we are to die, I will die together with everyone. My wife, my uncle, my family, will die together with everyone. That is all.”
This sentence was very quiet, the voice not loud either.
But, it was as though everyone’s hearts immediately calmed down.
Yes.
At worst, it is merely death.
Before, everyone lived a life worse than death. Having finally found a home, having finally found something to rely on, what more was there to be dissatisfied with?
Lanling said, “Death is not terrible. What is terrible is dying without value. If one dies to defend one’s home, to defend one’s tribe, then his death is heavier than Mirror Mountain, heavier than the hundred thousand great mountains.”
“I order, from now on, the Flame Demon Tribe enters first level war readiness. Everything gives way to the war one month later,” Lanling said loudly. “Use all strength to build defensive fortifications, to train troops, to forge weapons. One month later, fight to the death with a hundred and ten thousand enemies.”
“Fight to the death.”
“Fight to the death.”
Tens of thousands of people roared simultaneously.
Yes, compared to the previous days when one could not guarantee survival from morning to night, now they were completely living in paradise.
Since they were living in paradise, they needed to pay the price. Without paying the price in blood, what qualification did they have to enjoy this happiness?
“Land not watered with blood, on what basis can it be said to be our land?”
“A home not guarded with life, on what basis can it be said to be our home?”
“At worst, merely death.”
Lanling walked back and forth on the city wall, almost roaring, “Within this month, whoever wants to leave, I absolutely will not stop them. But, those who leave, do not think of returning after the war.”
“I do not care how many people leave, but even if only I remain, my uncle, my wife, my daughter, we four people will still hold fast to the Flame Demon Tribe. Even if I die, I will die in the Flame Demon Tribe, I will die at home.”
Even if one must die, one must die at home.
This sentence directly touched everyone’s hearts, almost making everyone burst into tears.
For a very, very long time, they had been refugees, had been wandering, had had no home.
And now, they had a home.
Even a dog, when it senses it is about to die, will return home before dying.
Not to mention people with wisdom and feelings.
Even if it is death, one must die at home.
“Build, fight, die,” Lanling roared loudly. “From now on, within this month, there are only these three words.”
“Build, fight, die.”
“Fight to the death.”
“Fight to the death.”
Everyone shouted wildly.
The entire Flame Demon Tribe entered an even more frenzied construction frenzy.
The city wall, whose progress was already very fast, became even faster. Nearly twenty thousand people participated in the wall’s construction.
The seven li long earthen wall was already built. Next was attaching giant stone slabs on top.
The tribe’s over ten thousand soldiers trained in blade, bow, and stamina with near madness.
Over a thousand carpenters built trebuchets and giant crossbows day and night without sleep.
Several hundred blacksmiths forged armour, weapons, and arrows day and night without stopping.
Previously, Lanling faced a choice.
That was, whether to first raise his own martial arts, or first raise the tribe’s combat power.
Now, there seemed to be an answer.
He must first win the great battle one month later. This was the primary task.
To kill Naishu, he must also first defeat the Silver Alliance’s hundred thousand strong army.
“Mirror, where is the Ghost King’s Tomb?” Lanling asked.
The Mirror Demon King said, “Sorry master, I can only give a rough range, within several hundred thousand kilometres of the Sea of Misfortune.”
“Sea of Misfortune?” Lanling asked in confusion.
“This is an inland sea, fifteen thousand li from the Flame Demon Tribe,” the Mirror Demon King said. “I roughly deduced it based on the Ghost King’s Eye’s field of vision.”
Lanling said, “Mirror, according to your mental simulations, what is our chance of victory in the battle one month later?”
“Twenty percent,” the Mirror Demon King said. “Because the enemy is truly too numerous, and the entire tribe’s trump card is only you alone. Of course, there are also giant trebuchets and giant heavy crossbows. But the enemy has over a hundred thousand people. Once they charge beneath the wall, it means being breached, it means being destroyed.”
Lanling agreed with this deduction.
The enemy’s numbers were truly too great, and moreover, the individual combat power also exceeded the Flame Demon Tribe’s.
One hundred and ten thousand against fifteen thousand.
Even with trebuchets, even with giant heavy crossbows, even with walls, it was basically certain defeat.
This wall was already tall enough, over nine metres high. But, the barbarian tribe soldiers were truly too fierce, completely unafraid of death.
“Master, you must find reinforcements,” the Mirror Demon King said. “Go find the centaur tribe. Not many are needed. Just five thousand centaur cavalry can turn the tide of battle.”
Centaur cavalry were the absolute trump card on land.
Their speed, strength, and archery were all crushing level.
Once battle began, if five thousand centaur cavalry began to charge, they could break through thirty to forty thousand enemy formations.
However, centaurs were a very solitary, arrogant race. They could not even tolerate their own kind, constantly fighting civil wars, not to mention joining a Near-Human tribe.
Any single centaur was extremely stubborn.
And the centaur khan was even more stubborn and arrogant to the extreme, with simply no room for negotiation.
The Mirror Demon King said, “Four thousand seven hundred li southwest of the Flame Demon Tribe, there is a large centaur tribe. Their khan is called Xie Li. It is the largest centaur tribe within ten thousand li, with a full eight thousand centaur cavalry. If we can get this centaur tribe to join the battle, our victory is certain.”
Time returned to two years ago, the Eastern Li Kingdom’s royal capital Lijing.
Ashi Liren could almost not believe her own ears.
Crown Prince Jiang Li had actually refused her request for shelter. Although she had rejected Jiang Li’s courtship, she had always regarded him as a blood brother.
She had always treated the Eastern Li royal palace as her home.
And now, Jiang Li had actually refused to shelter her and Zhining and her child.
Jiang Li’s expression became somewhat unnatural, his gaze turning to the side as he said, “The Divine Dragon Temple’s special envoy has already come to Lijing. Zhining is Demon Emperor Solun’s concubine, and Zhiyu is even more Demon Emperor Solun’s flesh and blood, the common enemy of the entire human kingdom. Once I take in Zhining and her child, it means becoming enemies with the entire human kingdom, enemies with the Divine Dragon Temple.”
The royal palace was completely silent.
Crown Prince Jiang Li suddenly gritted his teeth and said, “Junior sister Liren, have you and Solun had a man-woman relationship?”
Ashi Liren did not answer, only quietly looking at Crown Prince Jiang Li.
“Then that means you have not, so you do not count as Solun’s woman,” Crown Prince Jiang Li said. “You can stay. The Eastern Li Kingdom can shelter you. But Zhining and her child cannot.”
Zhining smiled towards Ashi Liren and said, “Sister Liren, you should stay. You have already shown us the utmost kindness.”
“Shut up, Zhining,” Ashi Liren rebuked.
Immediately, Princess Zhining quickly shut her mouth.
Ashi Liren coldly stared at Crown Prince Jiang Li, shook her head and said, “I am Solun’s woman, so I also do not need to stay.”
Then, she said to Zhining and Fang Qingzhuo, “Let’s go, we continue walking.”
Just like this, Ashi Liren brought Zhining and her child, and Fang Qingzhuo and her daughter, and left the Eastern Li royal palace.
She had no direction, did not know where to go.
Even the Eastern Li Kingdom did not dare to take them in. With the world so vast, where was their place of shelter?
The Headless Knight entered the thousand li desert, searching day after day.
He was looking for the Yelan Duchy’s Crown Prince Lan Tu.
To save Ashi Liren’s Rouan City, Solun murdered the Yelan Duchy’s ruler Duke Lan Shi.
And at that time, Crown Prince Lan Tu was leading three hundred thousand troops to surround Rouan City Gate, about to achieve victory in this battle of national humiliation.
As a result, after Duke Lan Shi’s death, a great upheaval occurred within the country.
Under the conspiracy of the Landau Divine Dragon Temple and the ruler’s concubine Princess Ji Hui, Crown Prince Lan Tu’s younger brother, Marquis Xue Lan Ye, ascended the throne and became the Yelan Duchy’s new ruler.
Because of this, Crown Prince Lan Tu’s Rouan great battle came to naught. He led over two hundred thousand troops back to the country to contest the ruler’s position.
However.
The justice factor in his body was after all too strong. He was not as shameless as his younger brother Lan Ye.
In external war, he could be ruthless and merciless.
But in civil war, in his bones he was still a noble warrior.
Lan Ye and his mother Princess Ji Hui did the utmost shameless things. They used the families of Lan Tu’s soldiers as hostages, making Lan Tu’s army not dare to attack the city. They also used Lan Tu’s wife and children as hostages.
Under this series of insidious schemes, even though Lan Tu had over two hundred thousand troops, in battle he was constrained and timid.
In the end, Lan Tu lost.
Unwilling to accept it, he led several thousand loyal subordinates into the desert, heading to the Western Liang Kingdom to borrow troops, because his mother was the Western Liang Kingdom’s eldest princess.
He was ambitious, planning to make a comeback.
However, after entering the desert, he immediately came under attack by the army sent by Lan Ye, the Flame Empire’s secret troops, and even the Landau Divine Dragon Temple’s secret legion.
In the end, the last several thousand people by his side were also completely annihilated.
Lan Tu was not captured. His warrior subordinates fought desperately to cover the rear, letting him escape into an underground city in the desert.
In the end, the only one who survived was him alone.
His father, mother were all dead. Wife, children were also dead.
His only younger sister Lan Yin probably also had no chance of survival in the Divine Dragon Temple. The Flame Empire absolutely would not allow her to live.
Crown Prince Lan Tu, with all hope extinguished, directly drew his sword and committed suicide.
He searched for a full half month.
The Headless Knight finally found Crown Prince Lan Tu’s corpse in an underground city. It had long since dried out.
“Hehe, only after dying can one be considered a true Hell Knight,” the Headless Knight said.
Then, he took out a bottle of ancient Demon King’s blood, poured it into Crown Prince Lan Tu’s corpse, and slowly said, “Revive, my Hell Knight brother. His Majesty the Demon King summons us.”